Saturn Astra: Lost in translation

GM's new imported Saturn compact fails to make up in performance what it lacks in practicality.

Language barriers
Language barriers
Elsewhere, GM saved pennies by not changing any of the user interface features on the Astra. That means you'll have to spend some time figuring out the button with a picture of a telephone receiver on wheels (CD player) or the one with a diagram of a screaming ball trapped in a birdhouse (radio).

The car's "center stack" - the set of audio and air-conditioning controls that runs down the center of the dashboard area - is flat and completely vertical. It's unattractive while also making the bottom row of climate controls awkward to reach and use.

Again, these controls are marked for maximum confusion. Buttons have strange acronyms like "BC," "AS" and "LOC." Markings around the climate control knobs are small and hard to see. Even when the words are clear, settings are difficult to find and use.

The Astra's interior is a real shame because, in its American products, GM has made huge leaps in interior design and has long been a leader in straightforward functionality. Compared with GM's other recent products, the Astra's dash layout seems, as the car's name implies, like something from another planet.

Last updated January 25 2008: 11:54 AM ET

Outline

Convenience

Controls

Drive

Run-down
First look: Dodge Challenger SRT8 Pictures of the 2008 Dodge Challenger are released early ahead of the car's official Chicago unveiling next month. (more)
Fast and high: First 'Vette ZR1 sells for $1 million Results from Barrett-Jackson's collector car auction include the first new Dodge Challenger, the first new Shelby GT500 KR and a giant car-eating robot dinosaur. (more)
New Malibu a game changer The redesigned 2008 Chevrolet Malibu is an American mid-sized sedan that can compete with the best. (more)

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.